Money woes trump sloppy joes

Do people even order sloppy joes in restaurants these days?  Well, I needed a rhyming headline, so I say yes.  Yes they do.

A report released today by Technomic revealed that more than one-third of American consumers (35%) say they are dining out less frequently than one year ago, with money concerns cited as the number one reason for the decline.

According to the report, 77% of those cutting back are doing so to save money, while 59% say they have less money to spend and 46% cite the price of restaurant meals.

Other findings from the Dinner Occasion Consumer Trend Report show that customization, ethnic/bold flavours and convenience are top-of-mind for American diners:

Customization rules: The majority of consumers (58% ) want to be able to substitute or choose a side dish, and 29% say they sometimes make a meal out of appetizers.

Worldly tastes win out: Ethnically-inspired dishes and bolder flavor profiles that can’t be easily created at home are an important part of the dinner experience for Americans. While Mexican flavours dominate in both full- and limited-service restaurants, Asian flavors are also popular.

Convenience is key: Convenience is an important factor in dinner trends, and for American consumers, that includes everything from how they order to where they park. It’s not unusual for consumers to view menus online when making their decision about where to eat out (27% report doing so). For 38% of consumers, free and easily accessible parking is important when choosing takeout.